OSWEGO, NY (July 16, 2013) – The 63rd annual SUNOCO Race of Champions Weekend is just around the corner and so too is the first 100-lap Novelis Supermodified main event since the 2005 season.

The 100-lap main, which will be split into two 50-lap segments, is expected to see a handful of new or returning entrants into its field this coming Saturday.

Davey Hamilton, who won the Novelis Supermodified Kick-Off at the Speedway back on May 11 in the Nicotra Racing No. 6, will be back behind the wheel once again looking to return to Turning Stone Resort Casino Victory Lane at the ‘Steel Palace.’

In May Hamilton drove the same Hawk Chassis Supermodified that took him to second in the Budweiser International Classic 200 in 2012, but on Saturday the Boise, ID native is expected to drive the new style Hawk creation that took his teammate Otto Sitterly to victory lane in last year’s Fall Championship.

“We are planning to put Davey in the new car on Saturday,” said Sitterly. “We are hoping it isn’t too far off and look forward to getting some input from him. We were able to run a lot of mid 16-second laps with the car last Friday and are trying to get the car to rotate better in the center of the corner.”

Expected to return to the Speedway Saturday, along with Hamilton, is Jeff Abold in the No. 05. After struggling with a brand new Supermodified at the beginning of the season, which has slowed the teams progress some to start the year, Abold will be back behind the wheel of his machine from a year ago that took him to 11th in the final series standings.

Also hopeful to see a return is ISMA Supermodified shoe Tim Jedrzejek in the Mike Murphy owned No. 60 Supermodified. Jedrzejek has run at the Speedway in non-wing competition a couple times this season with good results, including a fourth place effort in the Novelis Supermodified Kick-Off on May 11.

Expected new drivers this coming weekend include the ‘Jersey Jet’ Joey Payne in the Mike Muldoon No. 20. Payne ran full-time for Muldoon in 2012, driving to third in the overall driver’s championship. Competing full-time on the NEMA Midget series this season, Payne will hop behind the wheel of a non-wing Supermodified for the first time Saturday, looking to get ready for the International Classic coming up on Labor Day Weekend.

Joining Payne as a 2012 full-timer, looking to make a return in 2013, is Bobby Haynes in the No. 44. Haynes has had good luck in the RoC Supermodified event in the past and is hopeful to make his 2013 debut on Saturday.

Ray Graham attempted to test the No. 11 Novelis Supermodified last Friday at the Speedway, the same car that Johnny Benson drove in 2012 running of the Budweiser International Classic, but drive line issues sidelined the Graham team before making a lap. At this time it is not known if Graham, who has been running the ISMA series weekly with Clyde Booth, will be able to make the call on Saturday.

Keith Shampine also tested the Chris Osetek No. 55 at the Speedway last week, but Shampine will not be at the Speedway on Saturday, as work commitments will keep Shampine out of his fire suit for the 100.

A total of 22 Novelis Supermodifieds took the green flag back on July 6 and with a few more scheduled to compete this weekend; a full-field should be in line to take the green flag for 100-laps this Saturday.

The Race of Champions Weekend schedule for Saturday runs earlier than a normal Saturday night at the Speedway. Practice will begin at 1pm with qualifying races scheduled to take the green at 3pm. The 100-lap Novelis Supermodified feature is scheduled to take the green flag at approximately 6pm on Saturday.

For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com, LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. To speak with a Speedway representative call the box office at (315) 342-0646.

Open practice Thursday, July 18 from 5-9pm for all divisions.
Friday, July 19 – Pits open 3pm, practice and grandstands at 5pm, racing at 6:15pm.
Saturday, July 20 – Pits open 11am, practice and grandstands 1pm, racing at 3pm.

Live Updates can be seen on Twitter, Facebook, as well as the Oswego Speedway website

ABOUT THE TRACK:

Oswego Speedway is a semi-banked 5/8 mile paved oval. The non-wing Novelis Supermodified track record is held by Doug Didero with a time of 16.210 seconds at 138.786mph, established on September 5, 2009. The wing Supermodified track record is 15.019 seconds, set by Mike Lichty on July 13, 2013.

Saturday, August 3rd - $10,000 to win Mr. Novelis Supermodified / $1,500 to win Mr. Pathfinder Bank SBS presented by POMCO Group. Pit gates will open at 2pm, grandstands will open when practice starts at 4pm, and the first heat race will go off at 6:30pm. General admission seating is $20, reserved seating is $25, pit admission is $35.

For more information on Oswego Speedway be sure to visit www.oswegospeedway.com. You can also LIKE the (Official) Oswego Speedway page at facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway, or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. To purchase tickets or order merchandise please call the Speedway box office at (315) 342-0646.

About Oswego Speedway: Oswego Speedway, a sports entertainment company, is a 5/8 mile semi-banked pavement racing oval located off the shores of Lake Ontario in scenic Oswego, NY. Oswego Speedway has been a continuously run weekly racing venue since August, 1951. The premier open-wheel pavement short track cars in the world, Supermodifieds, run weekly at Oswego Speedway making Oswego the only weekly Supermodified racing venue in the world. The Small Block Supermodifieds accompany the full blown Supers on a weekly Saturday night schedule which runs from May through September. Oswego Speedway is mentioned in racing circles as the “Indy of the East,” as no fewer than a dozen past and present competitors have competed at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway including Mario Andretti, arguably the greatest driver of all time, two-time Indy 500 champion Gordon Johncock, along with former International Classic Champions Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, and Davey Hamilton.